Paris City Guide

A somewhat alternative little gem in the world of Paris tourism, the sewer networks offer a fascinating glimpse into a bygone age. Allow yourself to be swept along the tunnels of this self-styled underground city on an hour-long tour,...
More

Undoubtedly the city’s most iconic landmark, the Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 by Gustave Eiffel to commemorate the centenary of the 1789 Revolution, its 1,050ft structure towers over the city. If you’re feeling energetic take the...
More

Its construction was controversial and lasted more than 100 years, but all visitors agree on one thing: it was well worth the wait. The second largest church in Paris, completed in the late 18th Century, Saint-Sulpice also boasts one of...
More

Pierre Gagnaire, known for his fusion cuisine, is one of France’s most celebrated chefs. Despite having restaurants in London, Las Vegas and Dubai, he still runs a tight ship at his eponymous restaurant in Paris. If you don’t feel...
More

Overlooking the beautiful landscape of nearby Parc Montsouris, this gorgeously decorated restaurant also offers excellent cooking and highly attentive service. The real charm of Pavillon Montsouris is its ability to transport you into...
More

Jean Louis Nomico’s new restaurant in the 16th arrondissement serves sophisticated dishes with a homemade feel. Carefully placed mirrors and bold, textured walls give the venue a sense of vastness, while the menu itself boasts a...
More

This futuristic, urban park keeps kids occupied for hours. Its various playgrounds include the Jardin du Dragon where they can climb a giant dragon and the Jardin du Vent et Dunes, which has giant mattresses. For older children, the...
More

Located between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, these gardens are the perfect place for kids to let off steam after a museum trip. You can also rent model sailboats and watch them bob on the waters of the park’s many fountains.
More

Don’t be fooled by its name. Sometimes cheap really is cheerful and the sprawling group of Tati stores in Barbès is no exception. Virtually everything is for sale here, the prizes are pleasingly low by Parisian standards, and the...
More

Located on the Left Bank opposite Notre Dame, this ramshackle bookshop sells second-hand and new books stacked on floor-to-ceiling shelves. It’s dimly lit and smells of dust but this only adds to its charm. Always teaming with expats...
More

This cutesy retro bric-a-brac shop is a vintage-lover’s paradise with clothes, furniture and decorations to kit you and your home out in the style of days gone by. Walls are plastered with vintage prints and posters, while old dial...
More

Undoubtedly one of the world’s most opulent castles, the royal Château de Versailles was the centre of French political power from 1682 to 1789. The Galerie des Glaces, a hall with 357 mirrors, is the castle’s most famous room but...
More

70 minutes from Paris by train, this historic city perched on the Seine is the capital of Normandy. Must-see sights include the Gothic cathedral, the Eglise Jeanne d’Arc which marks the place where Joan was burned at the stake and the...
More

Depart from Gare de l’Est. €10 one-way This fortified medieval city is an hour and a quarter out of Paris by train. With its tower, ramparts and underground passages it is the perfect family day out. Summer days in Provins are...
More

The owner of this eccentric watering hole in Bastille is a Rolling Stones-obsessive and, for better or for worse, it shows. It’s dark, decked from floor to ceiling with Rolling Stones memorabilia and deals mainly with old school rock...
More

With its black interior and neon lights, Social Club is widely regarded as one of the coolest clubs in Paris. The club was once a printing house and can now accommodate up to 500 party-goers and plays a selection of electro, techno,...
More

When it comes to location, Showcase is hard to beat. Housed in an old naval hangar beneath the Alexandre III Bridge, the club has a lavish, Art Nouveau interior and overlooks the Seine. Clubbers dance the night away to house and techno...
More

If you like your culture a little more offbeat, then the wonderfully quirky Pet Cemetery on the outskirts of Paris would be a great addition to your itinerary. First opened in 1899, the graveyard served as a resting place for the...
More

Wherever you look, chic Parisians are sipping espressos and puffing away on cigarettes. In fact, smoking is so embedded in the French culture that they’ve dedicated a whole museum to it. In addition to the cigarettes, lighters and...
More

Sculptures, engravings, drawings, posters and photos map the political, social and cultural history of France during the 20th and 21st Centuries. Located in the Hôtel National des Invalides, the museum’s comprehensive account of the...
More